Learning CAD

[gadfly56]

AutoCAD LT is a 2 dimensional version of AutoCAD, put out by Autodesk and uses the DWG format natively. Autosketch did not used to read dwg files, but I have not used Autosketch since v. 1 or 2. AutoCAD LT will lose all 3 dimensional data, and may lose data from 3rd party software including other Autodesk products. But what is printed on paper should still look the same.

Definately keep copies of the original drawing files, along with the xrefs, pen tables and fonts if you have them. I suggest saving them to a cd-rom, if they were not provided that way.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe you're correct. Even LT '95 preserved the 3D data, and you could draw primitive objects by extrusion or specifying all the points. I've done this myself. You just don't get the nifty nurbs, surface splines and stuff, although if the drawing is from full-blown AutoCAD and contains this information, you can see the result. You just can't do new.